Wow, what a ride! It's been many long months since I embarked on this fic, and I'm amazed to see it come to an end!
Don't worry though: although the Symphony has ended, an encore will be coming.
With that all said, this last little bit here is where I would like to first of all give some thanks and shout-outs to a bunch of folks who really contributed to this work.
First of all, Hayfever / Octavia / however else you'd like to be credited: Thank you for crafting such a wonderful personality and character for our beloved cellist, and spending so much time with me on letting her and Sketchy interact. Without you, this story would never have even existed to begin with. I don't have enough words to properly thank you for inspiring me, I seriously don't.
Next up, a huge thank you to everyone at the Equestrian Study for putting up with my ramblings and ravings about this crazy-long shipfic I was writing, and inspiring a few ideas for story and intermezzos. You've got the patience of a bunch of saints, honestly. Why do you put up with me? XD
Thanks is also due to my friends at Everfree Radio, for helping me with editing and development. An especially big thanks to Brushin' Bones for being the most brutal and honest critic I have ever had the pleasure of being friends with - and am glad to still be even in spite of your sharp tongue. ;)
Thank you also to Blacklight Shining for letting me use your character. People seem to have really taken a shine to him! I expect we'll see more of him next time.
Naturally, a big thanks to both FiMFiction and Equestria Daily, for hosting this work and popularising it respectively.
And last but not least, thank you to you, the readers, for making this worthwhile. I have received so much praise, encouragement and delightful comments over the many weeks I've been writing this. That and the support of everyone else who has contributed have helped me keep going all this time.
Now with all of that out of the way, here are some additional little notes!
Firstly, I'd like you guys to know that I am planning a sequel, as I said.
I should also point out that I have plans to make a radio play of Symphony, hopefully with some good friends of mine. I will post more on that on my blog in due season.
Speaking of audio, I plan to also do a reading of Autumn Wind's marvellous fic, To Be A Better Stallion. If you've not read that yet, go do it. Even if you hate Blueblood. Heck, especially if you hate Blueblood.
This fic spans 498 pages in Google Docs. It's the largest piece of literature I've ever written.
Lastly, but by no means least... Here's a guide to what was going on in all the intermezzos in the order they appear in the fic.
1. The night before Sketchy left Canterlot with his mother. Characters present: Sketchy and Sally.
2. A look into the mind of Octavia, and her reclusive lonesomeness.
3. An interaction between Princesses Celestia and Luna.
4. A brief look at Sally and her parents on the morning of the day she brought Sketchy and Octavia together.
5. A look back into the past, on a day when the young Octavia gazed in at the other foals playing at the public school.
6. A reflection on Freeze Pop's several failed attempts to join the Royal Guard. Salad is the voice of comfort.
7. Another look at the Princesses, and Luna questioning the worth of making friends if you are immortal.
8. Octavia learns to play the cello. :)
9. The day Blacklight bore witness to Freeze Pop's Aurora Flare.
10. Sketchy and his mother, on the eve of Sketchy's return to Canterlot.
11. Freeze Pop, on the day of her induction to the Royal Guard.
12. Sketchy, Salad and Freeze Pop discuss their dreams of adulthood.
13. The day that Sketchy's parents finally separated. Sketchy is comforted by his two best friends.
14. Sketchy questions the meaning of his life, with his father.
15. The Princesses once again, set against the backdrop of the Canterlot Royal Memorial Grounds.I picture it as having a huge clock tower, for some reason.
16. Octavia admires another pony from afar, lacking the courage to act on her feelings.
17. Mustard shows Salad the fine art of sandwich making.
18. Sketchy questions the schooling system with Freeze Pop.
19. Celestia broadens Luna's perspective on the arts.
20. Octavia questions her music tutor on the nature of persistence.
21. Sketchy is joined on the long road to home by a fellow traveller.
22. Salad and Freeze Pop discuss whether they will ever find true love.
23. Blacklight sets out on his search for Freeze Pop.
24. The tale of how Freeze Pop earned the nickname Hard-head, and one act of many that sped her promotion.
25. The trio of close friends reflect on the events of the past several weeks, and look forward to the future.
Oh! And one last little thing. If you have any questions to ask me about this tale not answered here, feel free to drop a note in the comments or PM me and I will do my best to reply.
Thanks once again for reading!
—Sketchy Sounds.